New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 3, June, 1915 eBook

(1) An analysis and summary of the
evidence regarding the conduct of the German
troops in Belgium toward the civilian population
of that country during the first few weeks of the
invasion.

(2) An examination of the evidence
relating to breaches of the rules and usages
of war and acts of inhumanity, committed by German
soldiers or groups of soldiers, during the first four
months of the war, whether in Belgium or in France.

This second part has again been subdivided into two
sections:

a. Offenses committed
against noncombatant civilians during
the conduct of the war
generally.

b. Offenses committed
against combatants, whether in Belgium
or in France.

PART I.

THE CONDUCT OF THE GERMAN TROOPS IN BELGIUM.

Although the neutrality of Belgium had been guaranteed
by a treaty signed in 1839 to which France, Prussia,
and Great Britain were parties, and although, apart
altogether from any duties imposed by treaty, no belligerent
nation has any right to claim a passage for its army
across the territory of a neutral State, the position
which Belgium held between the German Empire and France
had obliged her to consider the possibility that in
the event of a war between these two powers her neutrality
might not be respected. In 1911 the Belgian Minister
at Berlin had requested an assurance from Germany
that she would observe the Treaty of 1839; and the
Chancellor of the empire had declared that Germany
had no intention of violating Belgian neutrality.
Again in 1913 the German Secretary of State at a meeting
of a Budget Committee of the Reichstag had declared
that “Belgian neutrality is provided for by
international conventions and Germany is determined
to respect those conventions.” Finally,
on July 31, 1914, when the danger of war between Germany
and France seemed imminent, Herr von Below, the German
Minister in Brussels, being interrogated by the Belgian
Foreign Department, replied that he knew of the assurances
given by the German Chancellor in 1911, and that he
“was certain that the sentiments expressed at
that time had not changed.” Nevertheless
on Aug. 2 the same Minister presented a note to the
Belgian Government demanding a passage through Belgium
for the German Army on pain of an instant declaration
of war. Startled as they were by the suddenness
with which this terrific war cloud had risen on the
eastern horizon, the leaders of the nation rallied
around the King in his resolution to refuse the demand
and to prepare for resistance. They were aware
of the danger which would confront the civilian population
of the country if it were tempted to take part in
the work of national defense. Orders were accordingly
issued by the Civil Governors of provinces, and by
the Burgomasters of towns, that the civilian inhabitants
were to take no part in hostilities and to offer no
provocation to the invaders. That no excuse might
be furnished for severities, the populations of many
important towns were instructed to surrender all firearms
into the hands of the local officials.[1]